As we have studied Heb 1-7 we have seen how this great book establishes this central
theme. Jesus is the true high priest, exalted to the Majesty’s right hand, and
serving in the real tabernacle.
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In fact, Heb 5-7 showed us the “WHO” of the greater priesthood, comparing
and contrasting Christ with Melchizedek. Heb 8 now explains the “WHY” of the
greater priesthood, indicating that the old external system is broken and
therefore obsolete. Heb 9-10 will next detail the “WHAT” of the greater
priesthood, revealing Jesus’ role in making atonement and appearing in heaven
on our behalf.
Heb 8, “Old and Obsolete vs. New and Improved,” will describe Jesus’ high
priesthood as superior in three ways. Note them in Heb 8:6. “But as it is,
Christ has obtained a [1] ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the [2] covenant he
mediates is better, since it
is enacted on better [3] promises.”
Let’s outline and study Heb 8 using these three “headlines” for the
“head” idea that Jesus is the greater high priest.
8:1-6 A
Better Ministry
8:7-10 A Better Covenant
8:11-13 A Better Promise
8:1-6 A
Better Ministry
Note again the big, summary, thematic idea (Heb 8:1, lit. the “head”).
Where does our high priest sit (1:3, 13; 10:12; 12:2)?
Is He a minister? In what tent or
tabernacle (9:24)?
An offering is necessary.
What? (7:27; 9:14)
Could He serve here on earth? (This
passage implies that the Jewish temple is still standing. In that case, Hebrews
must have been written before AD 70.)
“Copy:” example (John 13:15; Heb 4:11); imitation, facsimile, or replica
(9:23)
“Shadow:” shade (Mark 4:32); similar shape and form, but without solid
substance; “foreshadowing” (10:1; Col 2:17)
“Pattern:” Gk. typos; archetype, prototype; figure, mold, design,
blueprint (Ex 25:9, 40; 26:30; 27:8; Num 8:4; Ac 7:44)
Which tabernacle was real, and which a copy?
The original one was and is in heaven! What God instructed Moses to build
was an earthly model of the heavenly reality.
Heb 8:5 They (the
OT Levitical priests) serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when
Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that
you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the
mountain.”
This point will appear again in Heb 10:1 For the
Law, since it has only a shadow of the
good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same
sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who
draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered,
because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had
consciousness of sins? 3 But in those sacrifices there
is a reminder of sins year by year. 4 For it is impossible for the
blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
“Follow the pattern …”
God’s pattern is important! Moses dared not deviate from it. Nor do we
dare to add to, take from, or change the pattern God has given us in the NT.
2 Ti 1:13 Follow the
pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love
that are in Christ Jesus.
1 Co 4:17 That is why
I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of
my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
1 Co 14:33 For God is
not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women
should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but
should be in submission, as the Law also says.
Eph 4:1 I
therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the
calling to which you have been called, 2 with all
humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to
maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is
one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to
your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and
Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
8:7-10 A
Better Covenant
What is a covenant?
The word “covenant” appears some 270 times in OT.
Give examples of OT covenants.
The Heb. phrase “to cut a covenant” suggests …
Are covenants with God negotiable or unilateral (one-sided)?
Two Gk. terms were used for
covenants: syntheke, diatheke.
The
first referred to compromise agreements, in which both parties could add
stipulations.
The
second described one-sided agreements, in which only one party could specify
the conditions. The second party could then accept the covenant or reject it
and receive the consequences, good or bad.
It
is this second word that is consistently used of God’s covenant with us. He
states the terms. We may choose to comply or not comply, but we may not choose
to negotiate the terms.
Did the first (Mosaic) covenant have any flaws?
Would God promise a new one, if the old one worked?
“Finding fault with them.” Not
the covenant itself.
They failed to comply, and in
that way they produced the fault.
God’s covenant promises were conditional. In other words, Israel had to continue in
that covenant in order to keep receiving its benefits. When they failed to do
so, God still kept his promise by giving them the consequences of their disobedience.
Calvinists, representing Reformed Theology, often assert “Unconditional
Election.” They insist that God’s choices alone determine all that happens.
Once he initiates a covenant and promises salvation, that salvation will stand
no matter what. One who is saved cannot be lost, they say.
Yet God saved Israel, and those once saved became lost. The book of
Hebrews is written to tell Christians, “Don’t let that happen to you!”
The promise: Jer 31:31-34.
Apostasy >> exile.
Superficial religion. Reliance on
Temple, circumcision, etc.
“Behold, days are coming … new covenant.”
“They did not continue …”
“So I disregarded them …” Does God not care? Of course he does. It was the
people’s decision and responsibility that removed them from God’s care.
What makes the new covenant better than the old?
Laws of God internal: on hearts, not stone.
2 Cor 3:1-3; contrast Matt
5-7; Matt 23.
Relationship to God personal: “their God, My people.”
8:11-13 A
Better Promise
Knowledge of God universal: “all, least, greatest.”
We still need
teaching! (Heb 5:11-12)
But that knowledge is not
limited to the few.
Mercy of God liberal: “remember sins no more.”
God forgave sins in anticipation of Christ’s death (the new covenant),
not without it. Rom 3:25; Heb 9:15
The old covenant by itself did not provide forgiveness.
Heb 9:9; 10:1-2; 10:11
How can it be said that God does “not remember” our sins? He has “forgotten”
our sins only in the sense that he has put them out of his mind in his dealings
with us.
Summary:
By implication, to offer something new is to make the first obsolete.
Someone may say, “I have to
get a new phone.” That statement likely indicates that the old phone is broken,
lost, or does not function as a new, updated phone would.
By implication, obsolete and aging = ready to vanish away.
Note: The Temple’s destruction, coming in AD 70, would reflect that
reality.
Of course, the OT Scriptures are still of immense value to Christians.
The book of Hebrews itself is filled with quotations and explanations of OT
texts, because the NT is based on that foundation. Knowing the old helps us
understand and appreciate the new.
We also read the following about the OT’s importance for Christians:
Ro 15:4 For
whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that
through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
1 Co 10:11 Now these
things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our
instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
Ro 4:23 Now not for
[Abraham’s] sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our
sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised
Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over
because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
2 Ti 3:16 All
Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the
man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
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